Book Review: ‘Someone to Trust’ by June Francis

Well, trust is a word that makes us feel both uncomfortable and safe at the same time.

When I bought this book, I had no idea it would turn out to be a mystery and a family love story at a time.

A Heartbreaking Family Saga is a perfect tagline for this book.

The story revolves around the time of the Ireland war and shows us how difficult it was to sustain in that period of time for the people who have lost their father, brother or son in the war.

Plucky Lucy Linden, supports her widowed mother Maureen Linden and her younger brother Timmy Linden by selling firewood and apple toffee on the streets of Liverpool at the age of 13.

Rob Jones, a young police officer, notices her amazing ability to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is initially delighted by her adventures, but after understanding how difficult Lucy’s life is, he decides to keep a close eye on her, much to her annoyance.

Lucy’s attitude toward Rob changes radically when her bad-tempered uncle, who has a tendency to lash out, returns from the war with some troubling connections to the IRA.

When her mother Maureen Linden decided to marry Barney Jones, Lucy thought that now she will live a dream life and will get rid of poverty.

Everything was going fine until one day her mother disappeared suddenly. She was so confused about who is saying the truth and who is saying the lies while investigating her missing mother. Lucy was distraught with the loss of her mother and the news that Rob had gotten engaged to another woman.

On the other hand, Rob’s repeated criticism of someone she trusts complicates her judgement.

She and her brother decided to visit their grandparents to help them in their old age. Although, they are unable to forget her mother who has nowhere to be found.

One day, Lucy got a letter from her maid which made her to go back Liverpool immediately, leaving her brother with her grandparents and ready to find out the truth.

There are various assumptions and mysterious slots throughout the novel, leaving the reader to continue reading till the end. How Lucy was able to discover the truth despite her ineligibility makes us say amazing, and how Rob assisted her even after he became engaged to someone else makes us say a naive and faithful Rob.

A perfect story for those who have a keen interest in history, family drama and mysterious books. The level of language is pretty high for those who have elementary proficiency in the command of English. However, I would suggest not to keep a dictionary or search every other word because it will definitely distract you from the story.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead and dive into the writing of June Francis.

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Thanks for reading :)